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Miami Marlins Top Cincinnati Reds Behind Jose Fernandez

By Sean Millerick

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Fernandez Shines As Marlins Shutout Reds 2-0

61. Final. 2. 82. 0

In the second #JoseDay of the season, the Miami Marlins received an All-Star effort from recently returned ace Jose Fernandez in their 2-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday night in Miami. 

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Fernandez scattered six hits across seven scoreless innings of work, notching nine strikeouts in the process, as he picked up his second victory of the season.

Perhaps even more impressive than the young right hander’s effectiveness in his first two games back is the fact that Thursday’s win pushes his career ledger at Marlins Park to an astounding 22 consecutive games without being charged with a loss, racking up 14 wins in the process.

If that sounds like it might be historic, let the fine folks at ESPN assure you it is : the last guy to come out on top in fourteen straight decisions in his home ballpark had Babe Ruth to thank for the run support.

Throw in the fact that Jose has picked up two straight wins without the Miami Marlins own Cooperstown caliber slugger in the lineup, and you’re left with little choice but to stand in awe of what “The Kid” has accomplished.

Jose did however enjoy a ton of support from Miami’s other 2015 All-Star, as second baseman Dee Gordon set the basepaths on fire with his offensive hustle.  With MLB stolen base leader Billy Hamilton in the opposing dug out, Gordon set the tone early by swiping second and third in the first inning; all of that work quickly paid off as Justin Bour brought him home with a towering RBI double that staked Fernandez to an early lead he’d never relinquish.

The Marlins would add another run in the fifth on an Adeiny Hechavarria GIDP ball that scored Gordon from third, a base he had just stolen for his third steal of the game.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was never allowed to get going, as Miami’s defense did an excellent job of keeping him under wraps in limiting him to a 1 for 3 night.  And when he did reach on a bang-bang play in his first at bat, Fernandez kept him anchored there for the rest of the frame.

Miami’s ace looked every bit the part, showing exceptional poise in shutting down some veteran sluggers in Joey Votto and Todd Frazier; Marlon Byrd was the only Red who managed to reach base more than once in the contest.

Miami certainly needed Fernandez’s brilliance, as their struggles at the plate continued to show.

The Fish managed only five hits all night, but also garnered five walks; despite this though, the team could only manage to go 1 for 9 with RISP.

It should come as little surprise then that Miami’s front office is apparently considering a blast from the past solution in pursuing the recently released Casey McGehee.  Despite a dramatic second half drop off that ultimately led to his being traded in the offseason, McGehee was a .319 hitter with RISP in his Comeback Player of the Year effort in 2014.

As the 2015 club is putting up a .224 mark in that category, one can certainly see why they’d consider all options at this point.

Failing to add on once their star left the contest, Miami locked down the victory with two sterling innings of relief work from Carter Capps and A.J. Ramos.  Picking up their seventh hold and fourteenth save respectively, the pair limited the Reds to just a single hit the rest of the night.

A solid win, and hopefully something to build on going forward in this final series before the All-Star Break.

David Phelps will return to the starting rotation for Miami tomorrow night, and Fernandez will next pitch after the Break in Philadelphia.

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